Fence-making machine



(Model-. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. MILLER.

FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

No. 337,420. Patented Mar. 9, 1886.

N. PETERS, Fhulo-Ldhngmphflr, Washingwn, D. O,

Fries.

ELI MILLER, OF CANTON, OHIO.

FENCE-MAKING MACHINE.

QIEC'IPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,420, dated March 9, 1886.

Application filed August 21, 1885.

, ings, making part of this specification.

machines for making picket or slat fences, in

My invention relates to improvements in which wires to embrace the slats arefed through hollow twisting-spindles from spools mounted on and revolving with the spindles,

- said spindles being rotated in one'direction by a train of connecting gear-wheels actuated by a hand-crank or other source of power.

My invention further relates to and consists in providing a rotary reciprocating presserbar. My invent-ion further relates to and consists in devicesv for forcing the slats laterally into 1 position and holding them while the wires are being twisted.

I A further object of my invention consists in providing a removable twister-head having separate ways for the passage of the wire, and

lips to bear against the wire while being twisted.

of side elevation.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain features of constructionand combination or" parts hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

r In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plane view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side, elevation showing the working parts in position. Fig. 3 is a viewof enlarged section Fig. 4 is a view of the slatdr-iver. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached View of the bar D, having the adjustable plate thereon; Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the spool-spindle. Fig. 7 is an end view. or one of the spindles, and Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in cross-section of thepr'esser-bar and adja cent parts.

The several parts of the supporting frame are represented by the letters a a a, which may be varied according to circumstances or judgment. Cross-pieces b 1) form the frame for the twisting-spindles A and gear-wheels B. The spindles and gear-wheels are duplicates, and

Serial No. 174,987. (ModcL) will not require separate description. movable frame'pieces O O are connected by a cross-piece, D, which forms a support for the platform-strips j'ff. The twisting-spindles A are mounted on the cross-frame b b, and provided with gearwheels B, placed at such distances apart as to allow them to engage with each other. The spindles are hollow and divided, by a partition, H, into two parts or The' guideways for the passage of the wires, so that they may be kept separate and avoid liability to become entangled one with the other. The division H extends back and forms a support for the wire-spools J. Gear-wheels B and B make out the train of gear. 13 is mounted on a shafthavingau actuating-crank G, by which the twisting-spindles may be rotated. The spindles are provided with a removable twister-head, A, having two passage-ways, a o,

for the wire, which coincide with the ways in the spindles, and have lips that extend out from the body of the head to bear against the wire during the operation of twisting.

The wire-spools J are mounted on the extension H of thespindles, and secured by a throughbolt provided with thumb nutsz', which maybe turned against the ends of the spools J, so as to give to the wire a tension that will keep it taut while the slats are being forced into position and the wires twisted lever being pivoted over thepin S.

in these drawings,) which is attached to the side of the frame.

The frame-piece C, Fig. 2, is adjustable in the slots 0, so as to adapt the machine for making fence differing in size of mesh and spaces between slats. A crosspiece, D, (see Fig. 5,) is provided with an adjustable plate, to, on its front side that may be set so as to form a slight rib. or ledge, the upper edge of which by the foot-treadle S and the pawl S the foot- The rackwheel is held in position by apawl, S", (shown may extend up above the face of the table for the purpose of bending the wire snug around the corners of the slat, and it may be put on in one continuous piece, or in sections, if preferred. The piece D unites the adjustable posts or frame-pieces G, and is a support for the table-straps f.

The presser-bar N is mounted on a shaft, 0, and rotated in boxes P, which are adjustable in the box-frame P, and rest against a gum spring, 1?. By the use of this spring slats of an uneven thickness may be used, as the presser-bar will rise slightly, the gum spring P yielding to the pressure, and will follow down in case of a thin slat, and will in either case hold the slat and wire, pressing the wire tight upon the slats.

The presser-bar may be made of one continuous piece extending across the machine, or may be mounted on the shaft in sections, leaving an open space on the shaft 0 between the wires. The drivers Q (see Fig. 4) have an adjustable connection with and form apart of the prcsser-bar N, by which they may be adapted to bend the wire down from above snug to the corner of the slat, corresponding with the bend made by the ledge on the table, heretofore described, thus causing the wires to fit close to the slats, as well as to hold the wires perpendicular one above the other and straight across the slat, and act as drivers, by which the slats may be driven hard against the twisted wire chain, and at the same time firmly held between the presser-bar and the table while the wire is being twisted on the front side between the fingers Q and Q of the driver.

On the presser-bar N there are mounted two or more stops, T, which may be adjusted to the presseubar by thumbscrews or other devices, so as to stop the web at the desired point, as a gage to regulate the space between slats. \Vhen the presser-bar is thrown up, the stops are brought down just in front ofthe slat t", (see dotted lines, Fig. 3,) and the web moved by the foot-lever S until the slat m strikes the stop T and arrests its movement; and when the presser-bar is brought into action the stops are lifted out of the web, so that one lever will operate the presser-bar and the stops.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The wire is wound upon a reel, which is sup ported by and rotates about the spindle WV on one corner of the frame. On the opposite corner of the frame is mounted a crank-shaft and gear wheel that engages with a pinion on a spool -spindle on which the spoolJ may be placed. By connecting the wire on the reel to the spool and turning the crank the wire will be transferred from the reel to the spool. A proper amount of pressure will be required on the hub of the reel, so that the wire may be wound tight on the spool. The spools are then placed on the spindles as shown in Fig. 1, the wires passed through the spindle, and the ends of the two wires from each spindle are twisted together. A single wire is then attached to the ends of the twisted wire extending to the reel. The presser-bar is thrown up, as seen in Fig. 3 and shown by the dotted lines. A slat is placed in the machine between the wires, as shown by letter h, when the lever B is thrown over from an to z, bringing the presser-bar down, as shown, and the drivers catching and driving the slat into position, as shown at g, Fig. 3, where it is held during the operation of turning the crank and twisting the wires, after which thelever is thrown back to the place of beginning, releasing the slat. The foot may then be placed on the leverS and pressed down, which, by the pawl and rack, will move the reel so as to wind up the web just enough to make room for another slat, or until arrested by the stops T.

Having thus fully described the nature and operation of my invention, what I desire to se cure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a fence-making machine, a presserbar having a reciprocating rotary movement and an actuating -1ever, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a fence-making machine, the combination of the presser-bar N, the drivers Q, and

the actuating-lever R, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a fence-making machine, the combination of an adjustable frame composed of the cross --bar D, adjustable plate W, adjustable,

side pieces, 0, and the presserbar N, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth. 4. In a fence-making machine, the combination, with the presser' bar N, the adjustable journal-box P, and spring 1?, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a fence-making machine, the combina tion of the presser-bar N, the adjustable drivers Q, actuating-lever 1t, and the adjustable stops T, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of August, A. D. 1885.

. ELI MILLER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. R. MILLER, W. K. MILLER. 

